The governing act, running
along side ADA and the Carl Perkins Act is the federal Rehabilitation
Act of 1973 with 1998 amendments for increased opportunity. Persons
with disabilities have a right to services under the act.
List of parent and adult resources under the act is in the section on Rehabilitation
Resources, near end of this page.

The Act ensures thatt
vocational rehabilitation servcies wil be made availbe to
those determnine deligible through state departments of rehabilitaion services,
aimning at full inclusion in the community, gainful emplyment,
recreation, and other aspects of an everyday life.
This includes by law right to:

enjoy self-determination

make choices

live independently

pursue meaningful
careers

enjoy full inclusion
and integration in all aspectss including education manistream of society.

Getting started:

Transition services
for life after high school (Get
in touch with agencies and start no later than age 16)

Assessment of
Eligiibility. Have
a counsellor assigned by state Division of Rehabilitation Services.
(Illinois: Division
of Rehabilitation Services. 80o
843-6154, TTY 447-6404.Division of Rehabilitation
Services Ticket to Work Unit.(Same
website as above.)
800 795-9973, TTY 800 524-9904. Provides information about DRS's role as an
Employment Network.)
You will need information on income, medical history, your plans, education,
other data that might help eligibility.
Law provides that a decision be made within 60 days unless mutually extended.
Be sure a counsellor is assigned.

Vocational Rehabilitation.
VR is
designed to improve skills for adult life through, among others, education,
trining, geting a job, living on your own, connecting in the community. Develop
an Individualized Plan For Employment (IPE) in writing with
your counsellor. It should refelct your interests and choices.

Vocational Assessments.
With your
counsellor you can, for example, review your records, training and experience-
be sure to take full account of volunteer and extra-curricular activities!
You may be asked to go for skill trials. From all of these, set your goals
and put them in your IPE.

Employment. You
are presumed to be able to work--you do not have to prove it. Your employment
goal, including hours and various support have to be suitable to you as an
individual. Your counsellor must help you find and keep the job.

Independent Living.
Your counsellor
should provide information and referrals to help you with this. Get more information
on Centers for Independent Living from the state Parent Training and
Information Center.
(Illinois: Family Resource Center on Disabilities-FRCD, 20 E. Jackson room
300 60604 312 939-3513, TDD 939-3519, frcdptiil@ameritech.net,
www.frcd.org.)

Accountability.
You havd
a right to information and aadvice about benefits through Client Assistance
Program (information about from Rehabilitation Services). Information
on available services and benefits, advocacy services, assitance with mediation
or a hearing.

If you hve been
denied access to transition services, vocational rehabilitation service, emplyment
opportunities (hiring,
promotion, training, benefits that you are qualified for), recreation
and other community programs, oportunity to participate in or benefit from
federally funded programs: you can file a
written complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) within 180 days.